College Football Offseason Offers Playoff Expansion Debate, Manning's Rise and Recruiting Shifts

The college football offseason has hit a lull. Spring games have wrapped up for most teams, official recruit visits wait until after Memorial Day, and media days feel distant.

Talk persists, though. Beyond LSU coach Lane Kiffin, several storylines stand out this summer.

Playoff expansion leads the discussion. Debate splits between fans who prize the regular season and those seeking more postseason spots for programs. Social media shows less opposition to a 24-team field than expected. Critics call larger fields participation trophies in a sport fans prefer as an aristocracy. Name, image and likeness deals already spread talent more than playoffs could, as Texas Tech deploys boosters to land five-star recruits.

Arch Manning's arc draws notice. Texas fans anticipated his breakout last year over Quinn Ewers. The redshirt junior struggled early in 2025 but rallied with a strong second half, capped by a 99.2 QBR against Michigan in the Longhorns' bowl game. Now the Heisman favorite, Manning faces pressure to match that form and lead Texas to a title in 2026.

Recruiting sees changes. UCLA jumped into the top 10. Texas Tech nears it with three five-stars and high class averages. Traditional powers lag: Georgia, LSU, Alabama and Clemson sit outside the top 20, with Texas missing the top 10. Georgia lost three blue-chip commits recently, including five-star cornerback Donte Wright to Miami. LSU and Alabama hold five-stars but need volume. Whether this signals non-traditional programs closing the gap remains unclear as summer recruiting continues.